Jack was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Greenbelt, MD, He is the oldest of what eventually grew into a quirky and active family of six boys and two girls. He lives with his wife Jen and their three boys in Carroll County, MD. His writing draws on his eclectic and wide-ranging experiences growing up and living for periods in diverse places such as Nova Scotia, southern Maryland; the Florida Keys, and Scottsdale, AZ. Jack was educated at the University of Maryland and Loyola University. In addition to writing mystery novels, Jack teaches at the University of Maryland University College and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.